NGO helps stop diarrhea outbreak

ALAMADA: Swift action by Save the Children Fund prevented more deaths and helped families affected by the diarrhea outbreak in the villages of Alamada recently.

Integrated Provincial Health Office in North Cotabato said the outbreak claimed 10 lives, including four children.

About 1,150 households in Barangay Dado received life-saving essential items like potable water, clean containers and the water disinfectant hyposol (sodium hypochlorite solution) to make drinking water safe for consumption.

The Department of Health National Epidemiology Center said the diarrhea outbreak was caused by contaminated water from leaking pipes at water distribution sites and improvised bamboo pipes.

The village’s source of drinking water comes from springs that have hose or bamboo pipes connected to homes.

Initial assessment confirmed that residents do not boil water before drinking and many defecate outside due to the lack of toilets.

To help the Alamada Provincial Community Hospital treat patients, Save the Children provided an Inter-agency Diarrheal Disease Kit capable of treating 100 severe cholera cases and 400 moderate cases.

The non-profit organization will also provide 10 cholera beds to the hospital and two cholera beds in each community health station in diarrhea-affected barangays. It will also gives technical support to the health staff.

Out of Alamada’s 17 barangays, Barangay Dado, with 2,412 households, was severely affected by the outbreak with 756 cases of diarrhea. Of that number, four tested positive for cholera.

“We need to take immediate action to prevent more loss of life and help provide the communities with much-needed health and sanitation support. Save the Children has distributed clean water containers and hyposol to all families in Barangay Dado and other barangays to make their drinking water potable. Children have the right to safe and clean drinking water which is necessary for their survival,” said Ned Olney, Save the Children in the Philippines country director.